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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The Top 10 Highest Paid Players In The NBA

When players sign long term, multi-million dollar contracts, there are always two questions that come to mind when the news comes out. What is that player actually worth? Based on specific skills, self accomplishments, and fans will pay to see. Or maybe, is that given amount what the player is worth to the franchise? As in, everything that said player has done for the franchise, on and off the court, in the locker room, and even in the community. For example, Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki (NBA's two highest paid players). Although, a given worth of a player may be more of the name, and not of the player themselves (Like last year's Tracy McGrady). What most players and front office personnel understand, is being involved and playing in the NBA is not just a game, but a business.

So, some decisions that are made, are in the best interest of the player and/or the franchise. For example, when the Celtics and Nets agreed to a deal that included sending Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, and D.J. White to Brooklyn in return for Gerald Wallace, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries, Keith Bogans, and three future first-round picks with the option to swap picks in the 2017 draft. The only way this trade could be completed, was if Kevin Garnett waived his no-trade clause. KG knew, as did most fans, that the Celtics championship runs were over. He understood that by waiving his no-trade clause, he would relieve the Celtics of a ton of cap space, and allow them to move into the rebuilding phase. He put the best interest of the franchise, in front of his own, where he wanted to retire in green.

Another example, would be the trade that sent Allen Iverson to the Denver Nuggets. The Philadelphia 76ers sent Allen Iverson and Ivan McFarlin to Denver, in return for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two 2007 first-round picks. The Sixers did what was in their best interest, while also making an unhappy AI, very happy. Iverson demanded a trade, so Philly found a team that was willing to give them what they wanted, while also finding a place where The Answer would fit in. Now, the Sixers also got what they were looking for, cap flexibility and a player that could help them. Both sides did what they thought they had to do to make everybody happy, and do what was in best interest of the parties involved.

Now, that being said, lets move onto the dollar signs. Here are the top-10 highest paid players by salary, of the 2013-2014 season:

1. Kobe Bryant $30,453,805

2. Dirk Nowitzki $22,721,381

3. Carmelo Anthony $21,679,883

4. Joe Johnson $21,466,718

5. Amare Stoudemire $21,388,953

6. Dwight Howard $20,513,178

7. Pau Gasol $19,285,850

8. Chris Bosh $19,067,500

9. LeBron James $19,067,500

10. Dwyane Wade $18,673,000

As you can see, most of the players on this list are worth the money that they are playing for. Notice that the word most was used, as in not all. A select few players on this list are overpaid, of course. Where you have guys like Kobe, LeBron, Melo, and Dirk, being the face of the franchise and the league, and being well-known around the world. Other guys, like Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire, who played extremely well to get those contracts, to then give every reason to show that they aren't worth anywhere close to what they signed for. Starting with Amare Stoudemire, he played well when he first arrived to New York, but once Melo showed up, it showed that they couldn't co-exist every night. Stat's stay with the Knicks has just been injury ridden, and may as well be dead money in the books. Now, Joe Johnson, he played an All-Star caliber guard who showed he was capable of shooting lights out, while also proving he could be a team player. Once Atlanta realized that they were being haunted by that contract, they dumped the burden of JJ onto the Brooklyn Nets. He just hasn't proved his worth, hasn't been the stand out player that he was before he signed the max contract in Atlanta. Another that could be listed here, is Chris Bosh. He played well the first two season in Miami, but now starting to prove that he's more or less just a very expensive role player.

So, once those horrific salaries drop of the books, room can be made for those who deserve to be on this list. Taking JJ and Stat off, and putting Chris Paul ($18,668,431) and Deron Williams ($18,466,130) on to take the final two spots. And from D12 to D-Wade, would move up two spots. That would make this list more tolerable. For now.

1 comment:

Look at the team payrolls and then realize that the Nets' front office will do whatever it takes and still as a franchise they're losing millions as well forking over money to the NBA hierarchy by way of the soft cap luxury tax . This season they will be on the hook for some $62 million plus in terms of that particular tax , without any real guarantee of actually being a championship contender .